Device for applying and wiping or buffing, cleaning and polishing materials and method of making same



1966 F. w. WANZENBERG 3,280,420

DEVICE FOR APPLYING AND WIPING 0R BUFFING, CLEANING AND POLISHING MATERIALS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed May 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1966 F. w. WANZENBERG 3,280,420

DEVICE FOR APPLYING AND WIPING OR BUFFING, CLEANING AND POLISHING MATERIALS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed May 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RM Q INVENTOR.

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United States Patent DEVICE FOR APPLYING lAND WIPING 0R BUFF- ING, CLEANING AND POLISHING MATERIALS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Frederick W. Wanzenberg, 9 Campbell Lane, Larchmont, N. Filed May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 365,897 26 Claims. (Cl. 15-506) This invention relates to cleaning and polishing devices and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a polishing device which is particularly designed for the application of wax polish to footwear and for thereafter bufiing or shining the same or for the application of a cleaning, polishing or like compound to other objects and thereafter wiping or shining the same Without soiling the hands.

Various devices have heretofore been provided for applying cleaning or polishing materials to objects, for example, wax polish to footwear, in order to clean and/or polish and shine the surface thereof. Generally, these devices have been in the nature of daubers, pads or brushes which require a separate supply of the cleaning or polishing material, such as wax in the case of shoes, and most often the wax has been a self-polishing type, otherwise, buffing means in the form of a brush or a cloth must be provided in order to obtain the desired polish on the surface being treated. Also, the devices heretofore provided, have generally been designed for a number of applications of the polishing wax or other cleaning or polishing compounds or they have been designed for repeated use over a period of time after the package is opened or the device is removed from the package in which it is initially supplied. None of the devices heretofore supplied are of a character which renders them suitable for packaging in single units intended to provide for a single application or a small number of applications of the polishing wax or other cleaning or polishing compound and also immediate buffing or wiping or polishing of the surface or surfaces to which the polishing or cleaning material is applied with the same device, after which the device may be discarded. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device consisting basically of a wiping, buffing or polishing member and a small quanity of polish or cleaning compound, for example, a suflicient quantity of wax polish for application to a pair of shoes, with the buffing member folded so as to enclose the polish in a sealed pocket in which it is protected against drying out for a substantial period of time, and with the device initially forming a small package unit which may be produced with sufiicient economy to permit it to be marketed for single use and immediate discard.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a device for applying a small quantity of a polishing wax to shoes or boots and for bufling the surfaces thereof so as to produce the desired shine with the device being designed so that the polishing wax is preserved in usable condition for a substantial length of time and with the device produced for sale at a sufficiently low price to permit it to be discarded after a single use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a single use throwaway shoe polishing device which comprises a predetermined quantity of a polishing wax in readily usable condition and a combination applicator and bufling member which is initially folded and sealed to form a pocket containing the polishing wax, the device being adapted to be first opened up into tubular form to expose the polishing wax for application to the shoes without soiling the hands and thereafter to be fully opened out into an elongate strip and grasped at opposite ends so that it may be pulled back and forth across the surface of the shoe, still Without soiling the hands.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a readily disposable shoe polishing device which is adapted for single use and which comprises a combination applicator and bufling unit in the form of an elongate strip of flexible sheet material which is initially folded so as to form on one side thereof a pocket for a small quantity of the polish, the folded material being connected to form the pocket by a seal which may be readily broken so as to expose the wax for application to the shoe and the strip being adapted to be fully opened out so that it may be gripped at opposite ends by the user and the side which is free of the wax applied to the shoe surface for a polishing or bufling operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a shoe polishing device which comprises a small quantity of polish enclosed in a hermetically sealed pocket formed by folding and sealing an elongate strip of flexible sheet material which is in the form of a laminate of crepe paper and a fabric which has a substantial stretch in at least one direction, with the wax being applied to a part of the exposed surface of the crepe paper which is pre-coated with a vapor barrier material so as to prevent migration of the wax and to permit enclosure of the wax in a hermetically sealed pocket, the wax occupying the surface irregularities of the crepe so that when the pocket is opened up and the surface bearing the Wax is pressed against the surface of the shoe the wax is metered out slowly as pressure and friction are applied and with the stretch characteristics of the strip when fully opened out permitting controlled stretch in conformity to irregular surfaces to be polished and reducing the tendency to tear since high stress points will stretch rather than tear.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a method of fabricating shoe polishing devices and other cleaning, polishing and wiping or buffing devices of the type herein referred to in a continuous manner from endless webs of strip forming material so as to produce a multiplicity of units in final packaged form and to obtain high speed economical production using inexpensive materials.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device for the application, without soiling the hands, of various cleaning, polishing or like compounds, including but not limited to waxes, to any object to be cleaned or polished, and for wiping or buffing such object also without soiling the hands in a manner similar to that herein described for the waxing and polishing of shoes.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the polishing device and the method of fabricating the same which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a polishing device embodying the principal features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale and with the thickness of the material exaggerated;

FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating the first step in opening up the device for use;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the device partially opened up so as to expose the polishing wax or other cleaning, polishing or like compound for application to the surface to be treated;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating the device in opened up tubular condition and telescoped over the fingers of the user ready for application of the cleaning or polishing material;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating the opened up device in reversed position on the hand of the user ready for an initial wiping or buffing operation;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating the completely opened up buffing strip grasped at its opposite ends by the user and applied to a shoe surface for a final buffing operation; f

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a method'of fabricating the device in multiple units;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are fragmentary, schematic side elevations illustrating successive operations in the folding of the device;

FIGURE 11 is a plan View of a cut sheet of the material with seal forming adhesive and wax applied thereto just prior to the initial folding operations;

FIGURE 12 is a plan view showing the sheet of FIG- ure .11 when partially folded;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective view, to an enlarged scale, showing the partially folded sheet of FIGURE 12; and

FIGURE 14 is a plan view illustrating the sheet 'in final folded condition just prior to. slitting into separate units.

The strip member .11, in the folded package. forming condition of FIGURES 1 and v2, encloses a quantity of polishing material 14 in a pocketforming portion 15.

. The pocket 15 is obtained by folding upon itself a portion of the crepe paper side or face of the strip member 11 which has previously been coatediwith a heat bondable vapor barrier material. posited on a predetermined area of coated surface and the fold is made on a transverse center line 16 with heat and pressure being applied in a pattern which is indicated by the seam forming sealing line 17 surrounding the polish- .ing material deposit 14. The pocket 15 is defined by the seam forming seal line 17 and encloses the polishing material 14 so. as to protect the latter against drying out in the package. The remaining portions of the strip memberld oneach side of the pocket 15 arev reversely turned about the transverse fold lines 18 and 19 to overlie the pocket forming portions andhave opposed faces connected on a transverse seam forming seal line 20 .be-

. yond the .fold 16. End portions 21 and 22 of the strip 11 are reversely folded-at the seam line20 on the adjacent fold lines 23 and 24 and laid backagainst theadjoining portions of the strip where they overlie a portion of the pocket 15 with the marginal portions 21 and 22 being connected to the portions of the strip which they overlie on transverse seam forming seal lines 25 and 26. A small portion of the interface starting at fold lines 18 and 19, respectively, is bonded on the short seal lines 28 and 29 to serve as a-finger stop and to properly position the sleeve on the hand when applying polish as in FIG- URE 5 and during the initial buffing operation as in FIG- URE 6.

The seam or seal line 28 is bonded in the shape of a chevron so that it fits snuglyto the hand when the hand is inserted in the sleeve as in PIGUhES 5 and 6. In addition, the strip 11 is fully stretchable so that it will conform to any size hand, preferably permitting a stretch of as much as twice the normal perimeter of the sleeve. Stretching the strip 11 does not destroy the vapor barrier formed since a vapor barrier material is employed which will itself stretch beyond that of the materials 12 and 13 before reaching its elastic limit.

In a modification of the device the end marginal portions 21 and 22 are not folded back against the adjoining portions of the strip. In this form of the device, the tubular sleeve must be opened at the seam line 20 to expose the bufiing material in strip form suitable for use as a bufiing cloth or a wiping or polishing pad such as illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The polishing wax 14 is preferably a silicon or turpentine softened carnauba wax or like material suitable for polishing shoes. The silicon softened wax is particularly suitable for polishing shoes made of the new synthetic leathers. The heat activated sealing and vapor barrier The polishing material 14 is de- .with the bond being a peelable or readily separable type which permits the bonded surfaces to be pulled apart with out substantial tearing of the base materials 12 and 13.

One method of obtaining a bonding material which has beenyfound suitable comprises mixing an aggregate, such as soapstone or pumice, with a heat scalable or bondable material such as a water emulsion of vinyl chloride, or other plastic. Using this material as an adhesive and vapor barrier proper heat alone will provide a good hermetic seal which is easily separated by pulling the two sealed members apart' with separation being effected without substantial injury to the surfaces of the base materials and without interfering with theworkability'of the device. The material having least cohesive strength, in this case the aggregate (pumice or soapstone) will fail before the heat sealable or bendable matric or the materials 12 and 13. I

The device 10 is supplied to the user in the package form or condition shown in FIGURE}. In using the device for polishing shoes, it is first gripped in the hands as illustrated in FIGURE 3 and pulled apart to open the pocket 15 and expose for use the supply of polishing material 1-4. With the deviceopened up as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, it assumes a tubular shape and is slipped over the fingers of the hand. as inFIGURE 5,

with the polishing material 14 exposed on the palm side spreading the wax applied in FIGURE 5 and initially bufiing 'the shoe surfaces. For the. final buffing and polishing' operation, theseams 2t), 25 and 26 may be broken open and the ends of the strip 11 grasped in the hands and applied to the shoe surface, as illustrated in FIGURE '7, with the polish bearing side of the strip uppermost se i-that a clean bufling surface is employed for mental polishing operation. V

A'satisfactory method of fabricating the polishing device 10 is illustrated in FIGURES 8 to 14. A crepe paper web 12 which is extensible lengthwise of the web is coated on one sur face with abondable plastic material such as a water emulsion of vinyl chloride by an offset coating apparatus 30 while an extensible crepe or cloth 13 is also lightly coated with the same bondable plastic material by a similar offset coating apparatus 31. The coatings which'are facing each other are heated and dried by heat lamps 32. The two webs are fed to a heat and pressure applyingapparatu s 33 which bonds the two together so as to form a laminate. The laminate thus formed is treated on the uppermost surface with a heat bondable vapor barrier material by the spray coating apparatus 34 to provide at longitudinally spaced intervals transversely extending coated areas or strips 35 for receiving thereon surface backing rollers 36' engaging the top surface of the web so as to provide both narrow stripes 37, and end stripes 37. Heat is applied by lamps 3S and 39 to dry the stripes 37 and 37 of heat bonda-ble material and the web is advanced to a silk screen roller 40 which applies to the coated area on the .top of the web laterally spaced deposits of the wax polishing material 14. The web is then cut by a transversely extending, reciprocating knife 41 into .the sheets illustrated in FIGURE 11. In the preferred embodiment, initial end marginal folds to form the end sections 21 and 22 (FIGURES 1 and 2) are made on the lines 23 and 24 by the fold forming and bonding mechanism 42, which also bonds at 25 and 26, and the successive sheets are advanced above'a pair of bottom folding rollers 43. A suitable device may also be produced without this last step. The sheet is forced by a suitable folding blade (not shown) down between the pair of heated rollers 43 to accomplish the fold on the line 16 and heat and pressure supplied by the rolls hermetically seal the wax deposits 14 in the pocket forming areas 15 defined by the seal lines 17 across the width of the sheet. The movement of the sheet is then reversed as illustrated in FIGURE 9 and the folds on the lines 18 and 19 are made by passing the sheet between an upper pair of rollers 44 which completes the folding on the lines transversely of the sheet or web and by heat and pressure bonds the material on the bond lines 20, 28 and 29. The folded sheet is passed through the slitting rollers 45 which divide the same into the individual devices in package form. The packages or devices 10 may be subsequently enclosed in individual wrappers or a plurality of the devices may be enclosed in a carton or wrapper if desired. The method, as shown, is adapted to produce a particular number of lines of the devices and it will be apparent that the number of lines may be varied depending upon the width of the webs 12 and 13.

Thus a readily disposable package is provided for cleaning, waxing or polishing material in which the package forms, first, a container for such material, second, a means for applying the material without soiling the hands, and third, a means of wiping, bufiing or polishing the object to which the material is applied, still without soiling the hands and all as an integral part of the package itself. The package is made of very inexpensive, stretchable, absorbent materials in a continuous opera tion including treatment of the stretchable, absorbent material to create a fluid-impervious, still flexible, pocket within said package and filling it with the cleaning, waxing or polishing material. The fluid-impervious pocket does not absorb the material contained therein and on the side containing the material is of a roughened structure and texture which meters out the material as it is rubbed on while the other side is soft and absorbent to give a high luster shine to objects polished.

While particular materials and specific details of construction have been referred to in describing the form of the polishing device which is illustrated and the method and apparatus for fabricating the same, it will be understood that other materials and different details of construction may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A readily disposable shoe polishing device which provides a polishing material applicator in one condition thereof and a bufiing unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterized by an elongate narrow strip of cloth-like material which has a greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on one face thereof coated with a vapor barrier material which forms a readily separable bond under heat and pressure and said strip being folded about a transverse fold line and bonded so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a polishing material, a quantity of polishing material in said pocket, said strip having portions adjoining said pocket reversely folded so as to overlie the pocket forming portions, and said strip having its end margins folded back on the outer surface thereof and secured thereto along the end edges by a readily separable bond.

2. A readily disposable shoe polishing device which provides a polishing material applicator in one condition thereof and a buffing unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterized by an elongate narrow strip of cloth-like material which has a greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on one face thereof coated with a vapor barrier material which forms a readily separable bond under heat and pressure and said strip being folded about a transverse fold line and bonded so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a polishing material, and a quantity of polishing material in said pocket.

3. A readily disposable device which provides a cleaning compound applicator in one condition thereof and a wiping unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterized by an elongate narrow strip of clothlike material which has a greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on one face thereof coated with a vapor barrier material which forms a readily separable bond under heat and pressure and said strip being folded about a transverse fold line and bonded so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a cleaning compound, and a quantity of cleaning com-pound in said pocket.

4. A readily disposable device which provides a cleaning compound applicator in one condition thereof and a wiping unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterized by an elongate narrow strip of clothlike material which has a greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on one face thereof coated with a vapor barrier material which forms a readily separable bond under heat and pressure and said strip being folded about a transverse fold line and bonded so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a cleaning compound, a quantity of cleaning compound in said pocket, said strip having portions adjoining said pocket reversely folded. so as to overlie the pocket forming portions, and said strip having its end margins folded back on the outer surface thereof and secured thereto along the end edges by a readily separable bond.

5. A readily disposable shoe polishing device which provides a polishing material applicator in one condition thereof and a buffing unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterized by an elongate narrow strip of laminated paper material which has a greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on one face thereof coated with a vapor barrier material which forms a readily separable seal under heat and pressure and said strip being folded about a transverse fold line with face portions adjoining the fold line connected along a generally C-shaped, readily separab'le seal line having its ends terminating at said fold line so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a polishing material, and a quantity of polishing material in said pocket.

6. A readily disposable cleaning device which provides a cleaning material applicator in one condition thereof and a wiping unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterized by an elongate narrow strip of laminated paper material which has a greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on one face thereof coated with a vapor barrier material which forms a readily separable seal under heat and pressure and said strip being folded about a transverse fold line with face portions adjoining the fold line connected along a generally C-shaped, readily separable seal line having its ends terminating at said fold line so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a cleaning material, and a quantity of cleaning material in said pocket.

7. A readily disposable shoe polishing device which provides a polish-ing material applicator in one condition thereof and a bufiing unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterzied by an elongate narrow strip of laminated paper material which has a greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on oneface thereof coated with a vapor barrier material which forms a readily separable seal under heat and pressure and said strip being folded about a transverse fold line with face portions adjoining the fold line connected along a generally C-shaped, readily separable seal line *having its ends terminating at said fold line so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a polishing material, a quantity of polishing material in said the outside faces of said pocket forming portions and said strip having its end margins folded back on the outer faces thereof and secured thereto along a readily separable end edge seal.

8. A readily disposable cleaning device which provides a cleaning material applicator in one condition thereof and a wipin g unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterized by an elongate narrow strip of laminated paper material which has a greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on one face thereof coated with a vapor barrier material which forms a readily separable seal under heat and pressure and said strip being folded about a transverse fold line with face portions adjoining the fold line connected along a generally C-shaped, readily separable seal line having its ends terminating at said fold line so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a cleaning material, a quantity of cleaning material in said pocket, said strip having portions extending beyond said pocket forming seal line reversely folded so as to lie along the outside faces of said pocket forming portions and said strip having its end margins folded back on the outer faces thereof and secured thereto along a readily separable end edge seal.

9. A readily disposable polishing device which is adapted for single use and which comprises a combination applicator and bufling unit in the :form'of an elongate strip of flexible sheet material which is initially folded upon itself so as to form on one side thereof a pocket, 21 small quantity of polishing material enclosed in the pocket, the pocket forming portion of the folded material being connected along a sealing line extending from two spaced points on the fold line toward the free ends of the strip with the seal being adapted to be readily broken so as to open out the folds and expose the polishing material for application to the surface to be polished and the strip being adapted to be unfolded and extended so that i-t'may be gripped at opposite ends by the user and the side opposits the pocket applied to the surface to be polished for a bufiing operation.

It]. A readily disposable cleaning device which is adapted for single use and which comprises a combination applicator and wiping unit in the form of an elongate strip of flexible sheet material which is initially folded upon itself so as to form on one side thereof a pocket, a

small quantity of cleaning compound enclosed in the pocket, the pocket forming portion of the folded material being connected along a sealing line extending from two spaced points on the fold line toward the free ends of the strip with the seal being adapted to be readily broken so .as to open out the folds and expose the cleaning compound for application to the surface to be cleaned and the stri being adapted to be unfolded and extended so that it may be gripped at opposite ends by the user and the side opposite the pocket applied to the surface to be cleaned for a wiping operation.

11. A polish applicator and buffing device, which comprises a generally rectangular elongate bufiing strip initially folded on a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse fold lines and in a flattened package forming condition with center portions thereof enclosing in a hermetically sealed pocket within the flattened folds thereof a quantity of a paste-like polish, said pocket being defined by a narrow seam connecting confronting wall forming portions in the center of the strip which seam extends from spaced points on a transverse fold line and is readily broken so as to permit the pocket to be opened and the polish exposed for application to a surface to be polished, said strip having its end portions reversely folded with the folds connected on transverse seal lines and the seals being readily separable without rupturing the material so that the package may be first opened up 8 into a tube by breaking the pocket forming seam and separating folded portions thereby exposing'the polish on the outermost face for application to said surface and the tube may thereafter be converted into a bufiing strip for a final bufiingoperation by breaking the end seals so that the strip maybe grasped at its ends.

12. A cleaning device which comprises a generally rectangular elongate wiping strip initially folded on a plurality of'longitudinally spaced, transverse fold lines and in a flattened package forming condition with center portions thereof enclosing in a hermetically sealed pocket within the flattened folds thereof a quantity of a cleaning compound, said pocket being defined by a narrow scam con necting confronting wall forming portions'in the center of the strip, which-seam extends from spaced points on a transverse fold line and is readily separable so as to permit the pocket to be opened and the cleaning com- 'rupturing the -material' so that by breaking the pocket forming seam the strip may be first opened up into a tube with the cleaning compound on the outermost face for application of the cleaning compound and thereafter the seals connecting the end folds may be broken and the tube may be converted into a wiping strip which may be grasped at the ends for a wiping operation.

13. A'polish-appiicator-and bufiing device, which comprises a generally rectangular elongate bufling strip of laminated material having a ply of crepe paper on one face thereof, said strip being folded on longitudinally spaced, transverse fold lines into flattened package forming condition with center portions of the crepe paper ply in fa-ce-to-face relation and enclosing in a hermetically sealed pocket within the flattened folds a quantity of a paste-like polish, said pocket being formed by connecting along a narrow seam line confronting wall forming portions of said crepe paper ply in the center of the strip and the seam being a type which is readily separable so that the pocket'may be broken by breaking the pocket forming seam and the polish exposed for application to a surface to be polished, the folds of said strip being connected along transverse seal lines with the seals being readily separable and with the folds arranged so that the strip may be opened up into a tube having the polish disposed on the outermost crepe paper face for application of the polish to a surface to be polished, and thereafter the tube may be opened up into strip form upon breaking the transverse seals for final buffing of the surface with the face opposite the crepe paper ply.

14. A cleaning device which comprises a generally rectangular elongate wiping strip of laminated material having a ply of crepe paper on one face thereof, said strip being folded on longitudinally spaced, transverse fold lines intotfiattened package forming condition with center portions of the crepe paper ply in face-to-face relation and enclosing in a hermetically sealed pocket within the flattened folds a quantity of a cleaning compound, said pocket being formedby connecting along a narrow seam line confronting wall forming portions of said crepe paper ply in the center of the strip and the seam being a type which is readily separable so as to open the pocket and expose the cleaning compound for application to a surface'to be cleaned, end portions of the strip 9 wiping of the surface with the face opposite the crepe paper ply.

15. A polish applicator and buffing device, which comprises a generally rectangular elongate buifing strip folded on longitudinally spaced, transverse fold lines and in a flattened package forming condition with center portions thereof enclosing in a hermetically sealed pocket within the flattened folds a quantity of a paste-like polish, said pocket being formed by sealing confronting wall forming portions in the center of the strip on a line having its ends terminating at transversely spaced points along a center fold line, the resulting seam being readily separable so as to expose the polish for application to a surface to be polished, the strip being folded and the folds thereof being held together initially by transverse seal lines which are spaced from the center fold line and which are readily breakable without rupturing the material so that the pocket forming seam may be broken and the device may be first opened up into a tube with the polish exposed on the outermost face for application of the polish and thereafter the transverse seals may be broken and the tube may be pulled apart to provide an elongate strip in the form required for a final bufling operation.

16. A cleaning device which comprises a generally rectangular elongate wiping strip folded on longitudinally spaced, transverse fold lines and in a flattened package forming condition with center portions thereof enclosing in a hermetically sealed pocket within the flattened folds a quantity of a cleaning compound, said pocket being formed by sealing confronting wall forming portions in the center of the strip on a line having its ends terminating at transversely spaced points along a center fold line, the resulting seam being readily separable so as to expose the cleaning compound for application to a surface to be cleaned, end portions of the strip being reversely folded, the folds of said strip being held together initially by transverse seal lines which are spaced from the center fold line and which are readily breakable without rupturing the material so that the device may be first opened up into a tube by separating the pocket forming folds so as to bring the cleaning compound on the outermost face for application of the cleaning compound and thereafter the tube may be pulled apart by breaking the transverse seals thereby providing an elongate strip in the form required for a wiping operation.

17. A readily disposable polishing device which comprises a combination applicator and bufling unit in the form of an elongate strip of flexible sheet material which is initially folded upon itself so as to form on one side thereof a pocket between the folds, a small quantity of polishing material enclosed in the pocket, the pocket forming portion of the material being connected along a seal line with the seal being a type which may be readily broken so as to permit the folds to be opened and the polishing material exposed for application to the surface to be polished, the strip being thereafter adapted to be extended so that it may be gripped at opposite ends by the user and the side opposite the pocket applied to the surface to be polished for -a bufling operation.

18. A readily disposable cleaning device which comprises a combination applicator and wiping unit in the form of an elongate strip of flexible sheet material which is initially folded upon itself so as to form on one side thereof a pocket between the folds, a small quantity of cleaning compound enclosed in the pocket, the pocket forming portion of the material being connected along a seal line with the seal being a type which may be readily broken so as to permit the folds so be opened and the cleaning compound exposed for application to the surface to be cleaned, the strip being thereafter adapted to be extended so that it may be gripped at opposite ends by the user and the side opposite the pocket applied to the surface to be cleaned for a wiping operation.

19. A readily disposable polishing device which provides a polishing material applicator in one condition thereof and a bufling unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterized by an elongate narrow strip of laminated material with crepe paper forming one ply thereof and the strip having a substantially greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on the crepe paper ply coated with a vapor barrier material, said strip being folded about a transverse fold line and sealed so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a polishing material, a quantity of polishing material in said pocket, and said strip having portions adjoining said pocket reversely folded so as to overlie the pocket forming portions.

20. A readily disposable cleaning device which provides a cleaning compound applicator in one condition thereof and a wiping unit in another condition thereof, said device being characterized by an elongate narrow strip of laminated material with crepe paper forming one ply thereof and the strip having a substantially greater degree of stretch lengthwise than crosswise, said strip having an area on the crepe paper ply coated with a vapor barrier material, said strip being folded about a transverse fold line and sealed so as to provide a pocket between the folds thereof for enclosing a cleaning compound, a quantity of cleaning compound in said pocket, and said strip having portions adjoining said pocket reversely folded so as to overlie the pocket forming portions.

21. A readily disposable polishing device which is adapted for a small number of polish applying and butfing operations, said device comprising a polish applicator and buffing unit in the form of a relatively narrow, elongate strip of a flexible paper laminate, said strip being initially folded upon itself and a pocket formed between the folds, a small quantity of a paste-like polishing material enclosed in the pocket, the pocket forming portions of the material being connected by a seal which surrounds the polishing material and which may be readily broken thereby to expose the polishing material for application to the surface to be polished and the strip being adapted to be fully extended so that it may be gripped at opposite ends by the user, and the side opposite the pocket being formed of a stretchable material so that it will conform to the surface to be polished when applied to said surface for a buffing operation.

22. A readily disposable cleaning device which is adapted for a small number of cleaning compound applying and wiping operations, said device comprising an applicator and wiping unit in the form of a relatively narrow, elongate strip of a flexible paper laminate, said strip being initially folded upon itself and a pocket formed between the folds, a small quantity of a cleaning compound enclosed in the pocket, the pocket forming portions of the material being connected by a seal which surrounds the polishing material and which may be readily broken thereby to expose the cleaning compound for application to the surface to be cleaned and the strip being adapted, when folded, to be employed as a wiping pad and to be fully extended so that it may be gripped at opposite ends by the user, and the side opposite the pocket being formed of a stretchable material so that it will conform to the surface to be cleaned when applied to said surface for a wiping operation.

23. A method of forming disposable polish applying and bufling devices which comprises feeding a web of crepe paper material and a web of stretchable material which is suitable for buffing a shoe surface or polishing or wiping other surfaces, into face-to-face engagement and adhering the webs to each other by activating a thermoplastic coating applied on the confronting faces thereof, coating a portion of the exposed surface of the crepe paper with a heat bondable vapor barrier material and drying the same, depositing a small quantity of a polish on transversely spaced areas of the coated portion of the crepe paper, severing the web at spaced intervals so as to divide the same into sheets of the length desired for a bufiing operation with the polish deposits approximately centered lengthwise of the sheet, partially folding the sheet on spaced transverse lines so as to turn back end marginal portions on adjacent portions of the sheet, then folding the sheet on a transverse line which is approximately in the center of the sheet so that the polish deposits are enclosed between the folds thus formed, sealing the folds on lines which extend outwardly from transversely spaced points on said center fold line so as to enclose the polish deposits in separate pockets defined by said seal lines and portions of said center fold line with the seal being a readily separable type, folding portions adjoining the pockets in the reverse direction so that they overlie the outside faces of the pocket forming sections of the sheet, sealing said last folded portions together at the free end edges thereof with a readily separable seal and slitting the folded sheet on parallel, transversely spaced lines between the pockets so as to divide the same into a plurality of the devices.

24 A method of forming cleaning and wiping devices which comprises feeding a web of crepe paper material and a web of stretchable material which is suitable for cleaning a surface or polishing or wiping other surfaces, into face-to-face engagement and adhering the webs to each other by activating a thermoplastic coating applied on the confronting faces thereof, coating a portion of the exposed surface of the crepe paper with a heat bendable vapor barrier material and drying the same, depositing a small quantity of a cleaning compound on'transversely spaced areas of the coated portion of the crepe paper, severing the web at spaced intervals so as to divide the same into sheets of the length desired for a wiping operation with the cleaning compound deposits approximately centered lengthwise of thesheet, partially folding the sheet on spaced transverse lines so as to turn back end marginal portions on adjacent portions of the sheet, then folding the sheet on atransverse line which is approximately in the center of. the sheet so that the cleaning compound deposits are enclosed between the folds thus formed, sealing the folds on lineswhich extend outwardly from transversely spaced points on said center fold line so as to enclose the cleaning compound deposits in separate pockets defined by said seal lines and portions of said center fold line with the seal being a readily separable type, folding portions adjoining the pockets in the reverse direction so that they overlie the outside faces of the pocket forming sections of the sheet, sealing said last folded portions together at the free end edges thereof with a readily separable seal and slitting the folded sheet on parallel, transversely spaced lines between the pockets so as to divide the same into a plurality of the devices.

25. A method of forming disposable polish applying and butfing devices in multiple lines which comprises feeding a web of crepe paper and a web of relatively soft paper which is suitable for bufling a shoe surface or polishing or wiping other surfaces into face-to-face engagement and adhesively securing the webs to each other, coating a portion of the exposed surface of the crepe paper with a heat bondable vapor barrier material and drying the same, depositing a small quantity of a polish on transversely spaced areas of the coated portion of the crepe paper, severing the composite web at spaced intervals so as to divide the same into sheets of a length suitable for a buffing operation, partially folding the sheet on spaced transverse lines so as to turn back end marginal portions, then folding the sheet on a transverse line which is approximately in the center of the sheet so that the polish deposits are enclosed between the folds thus formed, connecting the folds on seal lines which are of a firm but separable type and which extend outwardly from transversely spaced points on said center fold line so as to enclose each polish deposit in a separate pocket defined by a seal line and a portion of said center fold line, reversely folding portions of the sheet adjoining the pockets so that they overiie the outside faces of the pockets, connecting said last folded portions together along a transverse seal line beyond the pockets which is firm but separable and slitting the folded sheet on parallel, transversely spaced lines between the pockets so as to divide the same into a plurality of the devices.

26. A method of forming cleaning and wiping devices in multiple lines which comprises feeding a web of crepe paper and a web of relatively soft paper which is suitable for cleaning and wiping a surface into face-to-face engagement and adhesively securing the webs to each other, coating a portion of the exposed surface of the crepe paper with a heat bendable vapor barrier material and drying the same, depositing a small quantity of a cleaning compound on transversely spaced areas of the coated portion of the crepe paper, severing the composite web at spaced intervals so as to divide the same into sheets of a length suitable for a wiping operation, partially folding the sheet on spaced transverse lines so as to turn back end marginal portions, t-hen folding the sheet on a transverse line which is approximately in the center of the sheet so that the cleaning compound deposits are enclosed between the folds thus formed, connecting the folds on seal lines which are of a firm but separable type and which extend outwardly from transversely spaced points on said center fold line so as to enclose each cleaning compound deposit in a separate pocket defined by a seal line and a portion of said center fold line, reversely folding portions of the sheet adjoining the pockets so that they overlie the outside faces of the pockets, connecting said last folded portions together along a transverse seal line beyond the pockets which is firm but separable and slitting the folded sheet on parallel transversely spaced lines between the pockets so as to divide the same into a plurality of the devices.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,523,909 9/1950 Kreidler 15-506 X 2,932,841 4/1960 Graves l5506 2,961,678 11/1960 MacLellan et al. 15222 X 3,070,225 12/1962 Schwartz 20656 3,119,495 1/1964 Pratt 206S6 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. P. R. ARVIDSON, S. E. BECK, Assistant Examiners.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,280,420 October 25, 1966 Frederick W. Wanzenberg corrected below.

Column 4, line 34, for "mit" read mitt column 8, line 41, for "broken" read opened line 71, for "compounds" read compound column 9, line 68, for

"so", second occurrence, read to Signed and sealed this 5th day of September 1967o AL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesling Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

3. A READILY DISPOSABLE DEVICE WHICH PROVIDES A CLEANING COMPOUND APPLICATOR IN ONE CONDITION THEREOF AND A WIPING UNIT IN ANOTHER CONDITION THEREOF, SAID DEVICE BEING CHARACTERIZED BY AN ELONGATE NARROW STRIP OF CLOTHLIKE MATERIAL WHICH HAS A GREATER DEGREE OF STRETCH LENGTHWISE THAN CROSSWISE, SAID STRIP HAVING AN AREA ON ONE FACE THEREOF COATED WITH A VAPOR BARRIER MATERIAL WHICH FORMS A READILY SEPARABLE BOND UNDER HEAT AND PRESSURE AND SAID STRIP BEING FOLDED ABOUT A TRANSVERSE FOLD LINE AND BONDED SO AS TO PROVIDE A POCKET BETWEEN THE FOLDS THEREOF FOR ENCLOSING A CLEANING COMPOUND, AND A QUANTITY OF CLEANING COMPOUND IN SAID POCKET. 